Working from a home that’s around the world sounds too good to be true. Yet, the digital nomad lifestyle is only becoming more accessible. The question is no longer how, but where.
Picture yourself among palm trees, white sands, sipping on a fresh coconut as you crack out that next Powerpoint. Or, starting your workday with the orange-red glow of a fresh sunrise sweeping across snow-topped mountains. Your next Zoom backdrop could even be a distant desert sandstorm or ancient pyramids – the possibilities are endless, but the choice is yours.
Ready to find your next destination? We’ve rounded up the best countries to be a digital nomad in. Grab your laptop and get going!
Portugal
Average monthly cost of living: $1100 – $1600
Safety: High
WiFi connectivity: Strong
Language spoken: Portuguese & English
Visa: 1-year temporary stay visa with a minimum income requirement of €2800/month
Tax rate: Foreign-sourced income is nontaxable
With friendly people, stunning architecture, and beautiful beaches, Portugal is already home to several digital nomad communities, namely in Lisbon, Peniche, Madeira, and Porto. The relatively low cost of living and general safety make it a highly attractive hotspot too. There’s something for everyone here, whether you love laying on the beach, hiking through the forest, or even exploring ancient Roman ruins. Plus, they offer a one-year digital nomad visa that can be renewed if you find you’d like to stay longer. Learning Portuguese is recommended but not essential as the vast majority of locals speak good English.
Greece
Average monthly cost of living: $900 – $1200
Safety: High
WiFi connectivity: Strong
Language spoken: Greek & English
Visa: 1-year digital nomad visa with a minimum income requirement of €3500/month
Taxes: Only 50% of income is taxed
With affordable housing, a surreal landscape, and a welcoming culture, Greece is a popular destination for digital nomads looking to live in Europe. Whether you’d like to live in a city, island, or even a mountain village, you’ll enjoy the perfect weather – sunshine, nearly all year round. Plus, the Mediterranean diet is widely known for being the healthiest diet in the world. They currently offer a one-year digital nomad visa that can be renewed. It’s a good idea to learn some Greek, but most locals speak English too.
Thailand
Average monthly cost of living: $800 – $1150
Safety: Medium
WiFi connectivity: Strong
Language spoken: Thai & English
Visa: 45-day tourist visa that can be renewed for another 45 days
Taxes: Not applicable – income is only taxed if you reside there for more than 180 days
With wild jungles in the north and sparkling beaches in the south, Thailand offers an exciting travel adventure. In recent years, it’s become more welcoming towards digital nomads. You’ll find plenty of cafes and coworking spaces with strong WiFi to work from, as well as many communities of people who work from around the world. It’s a fairly safe country with a low cost of living, and English is spoken widely. Unfortunately, Thailand doesn’t offer a digital nomad visa just yet – but the 45-day tourist visa can easily be extended for another 45 days.
Nepal
Average monthly cost of living: $600 – $800
Safety: Medium
WiFi connectivity: Strong – Medium
Language spoken: Nepali & English
Visa: 90-day tourist visa that can be renewed for 15 more days
Taxes: Not applicable – income is only taxed if you reside there for more than 180 days
Imagine a place where the highest mountains in the world are in your backyard. Nepal is mostly known for the hiking trails of Mount Everest, but plenty more scenic routes lay waiting for hikers to explore them. A hidden gem, Nepal is slowly growing in popularity amongst digital nomads, and there are several comfy cafes to work from in the capital city of Kathmandu and the lakeside town Pokhara. WiFi speeds are generally strong, however, the connection can get weaker as you go higher up in the mountains. Although they do not offer a digital nomad visa, the tourist visa lasts for 90 days and can be renewed for another 15 days. English is widely spoken across the country too.
Mexico
Average monthly cost of living: $750 – $1000
Safety: Medium
WiFi connectivity: Strong
Language spoken: Spanish
Visa: Digital nomad visa that allows you to stay for 6 months up to 4 years, with a minimum income requirement of $2595/month. You must also have held a bank balance of $43,000 for the last twelve months.
Taxes: Foreign-sourced income is nontaxable.
Mexico has been the go-to digital nomad destination for a while now, and they offer a few different visas depending on how long you plan to stay. The great weather, delicious food and laidback lifestyle make it an attractive option, as does the gorgeous landscape and friendly, welcoming local culture. There are also plenty of coworking spaces and cafes with good WiFi to work from. You will have to learn some Spanish, but the locals are fairly understanding and will even help you to get better at it.
Costa Rica
Average monthly cost of living: $1000 – $1600
Safety: Medium
WiFi connectivity: Strong
Language spoken: Spanish
Visa: 1-year digital nomad visa with a minimum income requirement of $3000/month
Taxes: Foreign-sourced income is nontaxable.
Loved for its Pura Vida laidback vibes, you can live the beach life with warm, sunny weather all year round in Costa Rica. The low cost of living, lush landscape and rich culture make it a paradise on Earth – it’s no wonder many digital nomads call it their home. There are plenty of cafes to work from and the WiFi coverage is strong across the country. What makes it most attractive, however, is that remote workers can live here tax-free. Costa Rica currently offers a one-year digital nomad visa that can be renewed for another year – provided you stay at least 180 days in the country first. You will have to learn some Spanish to get around comfortably here.
Saint Lucia
Average monthly cost of living: $1100 – $1300
Safety: Medium
WiFi connectivity: Strong
Language spoken: French Creole & English
Visa: 1-year digital nomad visa with no minimum income requirement
Taxes: Income is not taxed.
A stunning country tucked away in the Caribbean, Saint Lucia offers no shortage of activities for adventurers and those who love the outdoors. Apart from the dazzling beaches, it also has several marine national parks and is also home to the Saint Lucia volcano. This paradise vacation island is among the cheapest of the nearby island destinations, and there are several cafes to work from, as well as a few coworking spaces in the larger cities. The best part – there is no minimum income requirement for the one-year digital nomad visa. Plus, English is the official language of the country and is widely spoken.
Brazil
Average monthly cost of living: $600 – $900
Safety: Medium
WiFi connectivity: Strong
Language spoken: Portuguese
Visa: 1-year visa with a minimum income requirement of $1,500/month or savings of at least $18,000.
Taxes: Income is taxed if you stay more than 183 days in a 12-month period.
The most biodiverse country in the world, Brazil is the ideal destination for nature-lovers. You’ll never have a boring moment in this lively country – from street festivals and bustling cities to lush jungles and stunning beaches. It’s a big, big, big country with a rich culture, so you’ll have lots to explore. Plus, the weather is warm all year round. Plenty of digital nomads call this country home, so you can expect to find good WiFi and comfy workspaces across the country. Brazil currently offers a one-year digital nomad visa that can be renewed for another year.
Mauritius, Malta, Nicaragua and Vietnam are a few other countries that didn’t quite make this list, but they’re fast-growing hotspots for remote workers.
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